The Children, Nottingham Playhouse Review
Written by Natasha
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Lucy Kirkwood’s award-winning The Children is a beautifully staged, thoughtful musing upon a variety of hard-hitting topics - these include ageing, duty, having (and not having) children, and extremely resonant ecological concerns. A one-act, one-set piece with just three cast members, the play offers an opportunity for both age-old and contemporary issues to be raised, discussed and to percolate into the thoughts of audience members.
There are many reasons to view and appreciate the play. Amy Jane Cook’s set design is sublime, the concept is captivating and the roles are consummately acted by masters of stage and screen Clive Mantle, Sally Dexter and Caroline Harker. The dialogue and characterisation are well-realised and resonant. There is plenty of comedy to be found amongst the serious, thought-provoking drama.
Despite the play’s dramatic setting and themes, however, the narrative is meandering rather than well-paced. The stop-start conversations don’t always engage the audience; revelations aren’t so much twists in the tale but expected expositions. I left the theatre without being as unsettled by the explorations of a post-apocalyptic environment as I had anticipated. (This makes me wonder if certain science fictions are destined to have less impact viewed from our post-pandemic perspective. Since this play’s debut, we’ve actually experienced a major health disaster, restrictions and fears for the future - a fictionalised version of this, however excellently written and directed, is likely to lose some of its significance.)
As a domestic drama with an unsettling edge is where the piece succeeds most. Its characters and their relationships reveal key aspects of what it means to be human, whether that be shown through dancing, denial or trying to exert control over the environment and the self. Precariously positioned between the edge of an eroding island and a nuclear exclusion zone, human behaviours, flaws and vulnerabilities are cleverly exposed. The cast give an outstanding acting masterclass, bringing the nuanced script to life through dialogue, movement and expression. Definitely worth a watch!
The Children is at Nottingham Playhouse until 6 April.